Women's Challenge Cup launches with three matches

Eight teams are involved in the first set of matches in the Women's Challenge Cup this season when the second round throws off with six teams in action this weekend.

In Messehalle Dornbirn in Austria, SSV Dornbrin Schoren will host Portuguese side CS Madeira on Saturday (15 October) evening for the first leg of the two-legged tie. Both teams reached the second round of the Women's Cup Winners' Cup last season, but are now seeking success in the Challenge Cup.

ZRK Kumanovo have reached the Last 16 of this tournament twice, in the 2004-05 season and again in the 2012-13 season. In order to keep the hope of copying this achievement alive, the Macedonian side will have the home crowd behind them as they attempt to get past Helvetia BM Alcobendas from Spain.

The Spanish side, who reached Round 3 of the Women's EHF Cup in 2012/13 and again the following season, are visiting the Playing Hall in Kumanova for the first match tomorrow (Saturday 15 October).

DHB Rotweiss Thun SPL 1 were in the third round of the competition in the previous two seasons and in their attempt to make it a hat-trick, they are taking on ASD Ariosto Pallamano Ferrara from Italy.

Just like their Swiss hosts, the Italian team were in the third round of the tournament last season and the first leg between these two takes place on  Sunday (16 October) afternoon in the Sporthalle Gotthelf in Thun.

The fourth, and final, pairing of teams in the competition is the match between ZRK Ilidza (BIH) and Zagnosspor (TUR), but their first leg will not take place until Friday 21 October as the Bosnian side will play both games in Trabzon, Turkey. Their second leg will be played two days later, on Sunday 22 October, when all eight teams will be playing their second legs.

For a full list of fixtures visit the Women's Challenge Cup page on eurohandball.com HERE.